When the 2025/26 premier league fixtures were released, everyone was drawn to only one big bang on opening weekend, Manchester United vs Arsenal at Old Trafford. The match will be held on Sunday, 17 August 2025, at 16:30 BST and both of these teams will enter the new season under quite different circumstances of their respective narratives.
Anything can happen, but it is a now or never scenario to the Arsenal under Mikel Arteta. The Gunners have been runners-uplaced in the last three seasons and have not won the major trophy since they won the FA Cup in 2020. Big spending this summer (Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke have jointly been brought in at a cost of approximately 165m) indicates that the intent is clear: to clinch the Premier League title, 11 years after last doing so.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are seeking to recover their nightmare season in which they finished 15 th and failed to qualify to European soccer in a period more than a decade. New manager Ruben Amorim has reinvigorated the attack with a big-spending purchase of Benjamin Shesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in a bid to build a new spirit.
Match Details
Fixture: Manchester United vs Arsenal
Date: Sunday, 17 August 2025
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Kick-off: 16:30 BST
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Venue: Old Trafford
Team News
Manchester United
- Andre Onana will be back in training after straining his hamstring, and should start.
- Joshua Zirkzee (knock) and Noussair Mazraoui (knock) are sceptical.
- The Argentine Lisandro Martinez has been ruled out due to a cruciate knee ligament.
Arsenal
- Leandro Trossard is still out with groin injury which he sustained in July.
- Gabriel Jesus has missed a torn ACL.
- Riccardo Calafiori and Kai Havertz are available with tiny issues in pre-season.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Heaven; Dorgu, Casemiro, Mount, Amad Diallo; Fernandes, Mbeumo; Cunha.
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi, Ødegaard; Saka, Gyökeres, Martinelli.
Tactical Overview
One of the main strategies of Amorim and his 3-4-2-1 will be to congest the middle and attack the flanks of Arsenal with the speed of Mbeumo and Diallo. The presence of Cunha at the top over Saliba and Gabriel will be important to disrupt the defence and Fernandes will offer creativity in the attacking play of United.
The Arsenal of Arteta will continue to play a high-possession 4-3-3 with Ødegaard pulling the strings and Saka, and Martinelli spreading wide. Gyokeres is an additional target in attack, and the introduction of Zubimendi must create additional stability together with Rice.
Key Battles
Bruno Fernandes vs Declan Rice - creativity vs control in the centre of the park.
Amad Diallo Vs Ben White - Winger of tricky nature versus the consistency of defence play of Arsenal.
Gyokeres vs Maguire - The new Arsenal forward player will prove his aerial and physical threat to United.
Form Guide
Manchester United – Pre-Season Results:
W 1-1 (5-4 pens) vs Fiorentina
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D 2-2 vs Everton
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W 4-1 vs Bournemouth
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W 2-1 vs West Ham
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L 0-1 vs Blackburn
Arsenal – Pre-Season Results:
W 3-0 vs Athletic Club
L 2-3 vs Villarreal
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L 0-1 vs Tottenham
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W 3-2 vs Newcastle
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W 1-0 vs AC Milan
Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)
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Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal (Mar 2025)
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United (Jan 2025)
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Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United (Dec 2024)
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Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal (May 2024)
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Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United (Sep 2023)
Prediction
The new-look strike force of Manchester United will be a challenge to the defence of the Arsenal players as Arsenal players have their passing game supplied by Ødegaard and speed by Saka, which may give them trouble in the back three. The Old Trafford crowd may be massive factor, though the stronger unification and recent dominance of Arsenal in this match makes it the close one.
Odds Picked: Manchester United 1-3 Arsenal
Betting Tip: both teams to score & Over 2.5 goals
